Such banter and the support some women give it is not funny. They seem to find the Tory attack on Angela Reyner a joke. They laugh indulgently about it as you might about a small child's inappropriate remark.
Such remarks are about the attack and undermining that is the basic instinct of the male, privileged Tories. This so-called banter sets out to undermine the working-class, those who are female and those whose background may offer more to the governing of this country than their privilege can.
This sort of attack from Tories and the Tory press is nothing new. Johnson has form; his tweets ring hollow and are no more than a PR exercise.
In 1995 Johnson wrote an article for the Spectator, where he argued that children of single mothers were "ill-raised, ignorant, aggressive and illegitimate". We know that parents are as diverse as any other section of society. However, Tory othering has worked for his voters in the past so why stop using it now.
In the same year, Johnson claimed that "uppity and irresponsible women" had a “natural desire” to get pregnant.
In a 2005 article for The Telegraph, he described the poorest 20 per cent of society as being made up of “chavs, losers, burglars and drug addicts".
He may have plastered a little PR make-up over the sexism and classism but he doesn't have to try too hard as the Tory press has those happy to repeat their lies to keep up this attempt to diminish strong, working-class women.
What does it say about those from Johnson's background and those who support him that they have to try and ruin the lives of others to make themselves feel, not only good but capable of doing the job they so want for themselves.
Water Pollution -“ A National Disgrace”? A case for renationalisation?
Good Morning Good Friday 29th March 2024
Things you find stressful that other people don't notice.